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A Prince on Paper
A Prince on Paper by Alyssa Cole is $1.99! This is the third book in Cole’s Reluctant Royals series. I’d say it can be read as a standalone, but characters from previous books definitely play a role. Elyse gave this one a B:
A Prince on Paper was a fun, fairytale romance, but it needed more resolution to totally satisfy me.
The Reluctant Royals series returns with a good girl searching for the life that’s not too big, and not too small, and the bad boy prince who might be just right for her…
Nya Jerami fled Thesolo for the glitz and glamour of NYC but discovered that her Prince Charming only exists in her virtual dating games. When Nya returns home for a royal wedding, she accidentally finds herself up close and personal—in bed—with the real-life celebrity prince who she loves to hate.
For Johan von Braustein, the red-headed step-prince of Liechtienbourg, acting as paparazzi bait is a ruse that protects his brother—the heir to the throne—and his own heart. When a royal referendum threatens his brother’s future, a fake engagement is the perfect way to keep the cameras on him.
Nya and Johan both have good reasons to avoid love, but as desires are laid bare behind palace doors, they must decide if their fake romance will lead to a happily-ever-after.
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A Duke, a Lady, and a Baby
A Duke, a Lady, and a Baby by Vanessa Riley is $3.99! Like with most illustrated covers, readers say there’s a disconnect between the cover and the content, and that this one is a real emotional, tearjerker of a romance. Have you read it?
When headstrong West Indian heiress Patience Jordan questioned her English husband’s mysterious suicide, she lost everything: her newborn son, Lionel, her fortune—and her freedom. Falsely imprisoned, she risks her life to be near her child—until The Widow’s Grace gets her hired as her own son’s nanny. But working for his unsuspecting new guardian, Busick Strathmore, Duke of Repington, has perils of its own. Especially when Patience discovers his military strictness belies an ex-rake of unswerving honor—and unexpected passion…
A wounded military hero, Busick is determined to resolve his dead cousin’s dangerous financial dealings for Lionel’s sake. But his investigation is a minor skirmish compared to dealing with the forthright, courageous, and alluring Patience. Somehow, she’s breaking his rules, and sweeping past his defenses. Soon, between formidable enemies and obstacles, they form a fragile trust—but will it be enough to save the future they long to dare together?
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First Star I See Tonight
First Star I See Tonight by Susan Elizabeth Phillips is $2.99! For many people, this was one of the most anticipated romances of 2016. But others found the book had problems with race and misogyny. Do check out the review at BookThingo for more on the latter if you’re curious. If you read it, what were your impressions?
A star quarterback and a feisty detective play for keeps in this sporty, sexy, sassy novel—a long-awaited new entry in the beloved, award-winning, New York Times bestselling author’s fan-favorite Chicago Stars football series.
Piper Dove is a woman with a dream—to become the best detective in the city of Chicago. First job? Trail former Chicago Stars quarterback, Cooper Graham. Problem? Graham’s spotted her, and he’s not happy.
Which is why a good detective needs to think on her feet. “The fact is…I’m your stalker. Not full-out barmy. Just…mildly unhinged.”
Piper soon finds herself working for Graham himself, although not as the bodyguard he refuses to admit he so desperately needs. Instead, he’s hired her to keep an eye on the employees at his exclusive new nightclub. But Coop’s life might be in danger, and Piper’s determined to protect him, whether he wants it or not. (Hint: Not!) If only she weren’t also dealing with a bevy of Middle Eastern princesses, a Pakistani servant girl yearning for freedom, a teenager who just wants to fit in, and an elderly neighbor demanding Piper find her very dead husband.
And then there’s Cooper Graham himself, a legendary sports hero who always gets what he wants—even if what he wants is a feisty detective hell bent on proving she’s as tough as he is.
From the bustling streets of Chicago to a windswept lighthouse on Lake Superior to the glistening waters of Biscayne Bay, two people who can’t stand to lose will test themselves and each other to discover what matters most.
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Off Base
Off Base by Annabeth Albert is $1.99! This is a contemporary m/m romance with forced proximity, as the two heroes seem to be roommates. One of them is also a virgin if that’s your catnip. Many readers found this to be a pretty satisfying read. However, some felt they wanted more depth and connection with the characters.
After trading the barracks for a fixer-upper rental, navy SEAL Zack Nelson wants peace, not a roommate—especially not Pike, who sees things about Zack he most wants to hide. Pike’s flirting puts virgin Zack on edge. And the questions Pike’s arrival would spark from Zack’s teammates about his own sexuality? Nope. Not going there. But Zack can’t refuse.
Pike Reynolds knows there won’t be a warm welcome in his new home. What can he say? He’s an acquired taste. But he needs this chance to get his life together. Also, teasing the uptight SEAL will be hella fun. Still, Pike has to tread carefully; he’s had his fill of tourists in the past, and he can’t risk his heart on another, not even one as hot, as built—and, okay, yeah, as adorable—as Zack.
Living with Pike crumbles Zack’s restraint and fuels his curiosity. He discovers how well they fit together in bed…in the shower…in the hallway… He needs Pike more than he could have imagined, yet he doesn’t know how to be the man Pike deserves.
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I enjoyed Off Base – it’s the first in Annabeth Albert’s Out of Uniform series and both heroes were introduced in her earlier Gaymers series. One of them is a SEAL and the other is a PhD scientist / gamer nerd.
Content notes. It is Out4U. Zack is very closeted and grew up in a very conservative family. There’s a lot of “I want you but I can never have you” angst that I found tedious. There’s a sub plot involving homophobia and harassment.
The best parts are the h/h rehabbing the house they’re renting together (it’s part of the rent deal) and caring for a hostile cat. The chemistry between them is also great.
Rachel Van Dyken’s STEALING HER is a 99-cent KDD today. The story features “the wrong twin” trope with a hero who is blackmailed into posing as his identical twin—and falling in love with his twin’s fiancée in the process. (While I enjoyed STEALING HER very much, the sequel, FINDING HIM—about the other twin—is even better and was one of my favorite books of 2020.)
I did not enjoy A Duke, a Lady, and a Baby. There’s no real conflict between the hero and heroine and the bit with the villain is conceptually fine, but ends up being a bit disappointing because it’s not played for tension, just for anxiety for the heroine. Riley alternates between first and third person which I also found annoying. Finally, there’s this whole plot line about how the heroine is a nursing mother, but I feel certain she should have gotten mastitis at least twice (binding your breasts to dress up as a man while exclusively nursing an infant? )
Busick? I just can’t.
@FashionablyEvil Thank you for the nursing mother warning. I recall the feeling of “OMG; they’re going to explode any minute!” The thought of also binding them and being able to function at all… I think that would exceed my capacity to suspend disbelief.
I have a similar issue with people who have a serious injury (e.g., broken bone) as a plot point. I’ve broken bones, and, trust me, there is no kiss so engrossing that it completely washes away the pain of the broken bone. Nor do you pop out of your cast with everything totally back to normal.
The Albert, Riley and Cole are all excellent!
I’ve experienced that problem (the misogyny in particular) with many SEP books. There are a lot of reviews that go into detail RE the lack of consent involved in the sex scenes. IMO readers should be strongly cautioned about a lot of her works if they find such subjects triggering.
@Lisa F: Agreed re: SEP. She’s recommended a lot and people rarely flag the consent issues! I am sensitive to that and have DNF’d two of her books and won’t be trying any more, so please read up if that’s you too.
Off Base looks like it might be a candidate for a Cover Snark feature. At first glance, I thought the little glowy bit next to the face of the man behind was an earring … on a closer look, I wonder if his face is Photoshopped in.
I love pretty much everything SEP writes, and I want so much more from her. SO DON’T HARSH MY LOVE! Even though this one is not my favorite, I will go to my grave saying she’s awesome and will raise swords against anyone who says otherwise (not that I could actually raise a sword, but still).